Why Is the Period During the Gupta Empire Known As a Golden Age ?

Chapter 18-The Achievements of the Gupta Empire

Why is the period during the Gupta Empire known as a “golden age”?

P R E V I E W

Historians sometimes use the term “golden age” to describe a specific time period in history. Consider this term by answering the following questions. You may write or draw your responses.

What do you think a “golden age” is?

What might a “golden age” look like in an ancient civilization? Think about each of the following areas and describe it in a “golden age”.

R E A D I N G N O T E S

Key Content Terms

As you complete the Reading Notes, use these terms in your answers.

Section 2

1.  Shade in the Gupta Empire on the map on the opposite page. Shade in the box in the key to match the color of the area you shade on the map.

2.  How did the Guptas build and expand their empire?

3.  Compare and contrast the governments of the Mauryan Empire and the Gupta Empire by completing the Venn diagram below. List the similarities between the empires in the overlapping area of the diagram. List the differences between the empires on the appropriate sides of the diagram.

Mauryan Empire

Gupta Empire

Achievements of the Gupta Empire, 320–550 C.E.

Gupta Empire City

Bakshali

Meharauli

Mathura

Sarnath

Pataliputra Nalanda

Ujjain

Valabhi

Ajanta Ellora

Amaravati

N

W E

S

Sections 3 to 9

As you read each section, complete the matrix for that section.

•  List the achievement and draw a simple symbol that represents the achievement.

•  Describe three or more important details about the achievement.

•  Explain how this achievement shows that the Gupta Empire was a “golden age.”

P R O C E S S I N G

Write a paragraph in the space below that answers the Essential Question:

Why is the period during the Gupta Empire known as a “golden age”?

In your paragraph, introduce the Gupta Empire and

define in your own words the term “golden age.”

To support your answer, use at least three examples of achievements you learned about on your tour of ancient India.

______

Timeline Skills

Analyze the Unit 3 timeline in your book. Also think about what you have learned in this unit. Then answer the following questions.

1.  According to the timeline, about when did people first settle India? Where did they settle?

2.  About how many years after the decline of Harappan civilization was India first united?

3.  Use the timeline to identify one characteristic of Harappan civilization.

4.  What is the connection between the Vedas and the development of Hinduism?

5.  How old was Siddhartha when he became the Buddha and established Buddhism?

6.  Which empire united India first—Gupta or Mauryan?

7.  About when did India’s golden age begin, and during which empire?

8.  About how many years existed between the Mauryan and the Gupta empires?

What was India like during this time?

9.  Why would it have been impossible for Ashoka to spread Buddhist values before about 528 B.C.E.?

10.  How does the timeline help explain why the Aryabhatiya was published in about 499 C.E.?

Critical Thinking

Use the timeline and the chapters in the unit to answer the following questions.

11.  Why did it take about 35 years for Siddhartha to become the Buddha? Support your answer by describing at least two examples from Siddhartha’s life.

12.  The Mauryan Empire reached its height during the reign of King Ashoka.

What are two of Ashoka’s actions that might explain why?

13.  India’s golden age occurred during the Gupta Empire.

a.  How did the Guptas’ ruling strategy help promote a golden age?

b.  Describe one significant achievement that happened during this period.

14.  If you could add two more events to this timeline, which ones would you choose? List each event and explain why you think it is important enough to add to the timeline.

a.

b.